Job 36

1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Elihu also proceeded, and said,

2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee: for I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf.

Suffer me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4 For truly my words are not false: one that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength of understanding.

Behold, God is mighty, and despises not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth to the afflicted [their] right.

He preserves not the life of the wicked: but gives right to the poor.

7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings upon the throne he setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.

He withdraws not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yes, he does establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be taken in the cords of affliction;

And if they be bound in fetters, and be held in cords of affliction;

9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

Then he shows them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

He opens also their ear to discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity.

11 If they hearken and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: they cry not for help when he bindeth them.

But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he binds them.

14 They die in youth, and their life [perisheth] among the unclean.

They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

15 He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, and openeth their ear in oppression.

He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression.

16 Yea, he would have led thee away out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table should be full of fatness.

Even so would he have removed you out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no narrow place; and that which should be set on your table should be full of fatness.

17 But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee].

But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on you.

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be led away by [thy] sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.

Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you.

19 Will thy riches suffice, [that thou be] not in distress, or all the forces of [thy] strength?

Will he esteem your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.

Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this have you chosen rather than affliction.

22 Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: who is a teacher like unto him?

Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him?

23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?

Who has enjoined him his way? or who can say, You have worked iniquity?

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, whereof men have sung.

Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold.

25 All men have looked thereon; man beholdeth it afar off.

Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

27 For he draweth up the drops of water, which distil in rain from his vapour:

For he makes small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof:

28 Which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.

Which the clouds do drop and distil on man abundantly.

29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?

Also can any understand the spreading of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

30 Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; and he covereth the bottom of the sea.

Behold, he spreads his light on it, and covers the bottom of the sea.

31 For by these he judgeth the peoples; he giveth meat in abundance.

For by them judges he the people; he gives meat in abundance.

32 He covereth his hands with the lightning; and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.

With clouds he covers the light; and commands it not to shine by the cloud that comes between.

33 The noise thereof telleth concerning him, the cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.

The noise thereof shows concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapor.